Meditation music includes music to listen to during meditation as well as the centuries-old traditions of making music for meditative purposes. Meditation music is also increasingly used in hospitals as a relaxation technique for these suffering with chronic pain as well as psychiatric conditions. The stress-relieving properties of music have proven once and for all that music really does sooth the savage beast.
History
Religious music remains as potent today as it was for the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Choruses and music festivals have always played a part in the rousing of the human spirit by evoking a beautiful world that can be heard but not seen. Gregorian chants, for example, introduced Roman meditation music to England in the Middle Ages and led communities to worship, according to "A History of Chant" published by Saint Meinrad School of Theology. Some religious music traditions, such as Native American flute-playing and the bells of Tibetan Buddhism, have coalesced to form modern meditation music that can be enjoyed in non-religious settings.
Uses
Meditation music can be played in the background whenever a calming or focusing atmosphere is needed. Music that is too loud can be distracting, however, so make sure it does not dominate the scene. Music creates a mood and reinforces an intention to meditate or do other kinds of mindfulness training like yoga or Chigong. Meditation music can also act as "white noise" and block out the distracting sounds of passing traffic or the neighbor's ringing phone. Many people also listen to meditation music to relax before going to sleep.
Effects on Consciousness
Relaxing music lowers stress, slows the heart rate and can even release enodophins, those "love chemicals" manufactured in the brain, according to the National Mental Health Information Center. To the music listener, the world simply becomes a brighter place. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the ringing of bells may even hasten the process of reaching enlightenment as it represents the feminine principle of wisdom, according to the article titled "Ceremonial Objects" by the University of Virginia.
Health Benefits
Many hospitals, cancer wellness centers and psychiatric centers incorporate music therapy into treatment routines. Music therapy has been used to treat used to treat depression, schizophrenia and autism. U.S. Veteran Affairs treatment centers also regularly incorporate relaxing music into yoga sessions to help veterans suffering from chronic pain.
How to Choose
When choosing meditation music, ask friends and co-workers what has worked for them rather than what is on the best-seller list. Many public libraries also have an extensive collection. Choose an album that is at least 45 minutes long so it can create a mental space for concentrating or focus. For flutes and natural sounds, select nature meditations or Native American music. For more austere and quieter music, Tibetan Buddhist or Gregorian chants will fit the bill.
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